Research Initiation Grant (BII)

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Scientific areas: Artificial Intelligence; Creative Computing.

Scientific sub-area: Computer Science.

Summary: A call is hereby opened for the award of one Research Initiation Grant (BII) under project UID/00711/2025 - Research Unit in Design and Communication (UNIDCOM/IADE). The grant will be contracted by Europeia-ID and hosted by UNIDCOM/IADE - Universidade Europeia. The project is funded through Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. DOI: 10.54499/UID/00711/2025.

The grant holder will collaborate across several UNIDCOM laboratories, with a special focus on media art and design, working between MADx.Lab (Media Art and Design Laboratory), DTN.Lab (Design-Tech Nexus Lab), and the FABRICA digital and print workshops. This cross-laboratory position integrates technical development, artistic experimentation and critical research in line with UNIDCOM's transdisciplinary mission.

DTN.Lab operates at the intersection of engineering, computer science, technology, art and design, developing ethical, fair and responsible technological solutions. MADx.Lab extends this mission into media art, audiovisual practice and design research, examining how emerging technologies reshape perception, representation and collective experience.

Work plan: The work will be developed across MADx.Lab, DTN.Lab and the FABRICA workshops, combining supervised training, technical development, artistic experimentation and critical research in Creative Computing, Media Art and Artificial Intelligence.

Training objectives: Under the research team's supervision, the grant holder will learn to design and document reproducible creative-computing experiments; develop and evaluate interactive and generative prototypes; apply qualitative research methods and ethical data-handling procedures; and communicate research processes and results to scientific, professional and public audiences.

1. contributing to applied research projects involving interactive installations, generative systems and human-AI interaction;
2. developing, testing and documenting prototypes using Python, TouchDesigner, real-time audio/video pipelines, API integrations and digital fabrication technologies;
3. supporting observation, short interviews and evaluation activities, including consent procedures and the ethical handling and documentation of data in public exhibition contexts;
4. supporting collaborative knowledge-transfer processes and laboratory or workshop operations only where those tasks directly enable the planned research, including preparing equipment for experiments, documenting research workflows, organising research materials and maintaining the traceability and reproducibility of prototypes;
5. contributing to research dissemination through exhibitions, presentations, technical documentation and scientific outputs.

All activities will be carried out in close coordination with the research team and will have a clear training and research purpose. General administrative or routine facilities-management duties fall outside the work plan.

Where to apply

E-mail: alexandre.monteiro@universidadeeuropeia.pt

Requirements

Research Field: Computer science » Other

Education Level: Bachelor Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate:

• practical or research experience in Creative Technology, Media Art, Interaction Design, or related fields, particularly involving interactive installations, generative systems, or human-AI interaction;
• technical skills in digital fabrication laboratories, including 3D printing, CNC, laser cutting and other prototyping equipment, as well as experience using or supporting the management of these spaces;
• software development capabilities in Python;
• knowledge of TouchDesigner, real-time audio/video pipelines, or API integration, including speech-to-text services and large language models;
• an interest in, or experience with, qualitative research methods and ethical data handling in public exhibition contexts;
• a portfolio demonstrating creative or artistic work with technology, including installation, projection, generative visuals, or physical computing.

Specific Requirements

Applicants must satisfy all of the following requirements:

• hold a Bachelor's degree;
• be currently enrolled in a Master's programme;
• have a good command of spoken and written English.
• have at least six months available within the cumulative statutory limit for BII grants and not have previously benefited from a Research Fellowship (Bolsa de Investigação - BI). Any previous BII periods, consecutive or non-consecutive and regardless of the awarding institution, count towards the cumulative one-year limit;

Languages: ENGLISH

Level: Good

Research Field: Computer science » Other

Years of Research Experience: None

Additional Information

Benefits

Monthly maintenance allowance: The monthly maintenance allowance is €701.12, corresponding to the amount established for this type of grant in the FCT table in force, and will be paid monthly by bank transfer. The grant also includes personal accident insurance and, where applicable and at the grant holder's option, reimbursement of contributions to the Voluntary Social Security (SSV) scheme at the first contribution bracket, under the applicable rules.

Exclusive dedication: The fellowship will be carried out under the exclusive-dedication regime established by the Portuguese Research Fellowship Holder Statute and the FCT, I.P. Research Grants Regulation, without prejudice to the exceptions expressly permitted by the applicable legislation.

Eligibility criteria

Eligibility requirements:

1. Applicants must satisfy all of the following requirements:
2. hold a Bachelor's degree;
3. be currently enrolled in a Master's programme;
4. have a good command of spoken and written English.
5. have at least six months available within the cumulative statutory limit for BII grants and not have previously benefited from a Research Fellowship (Bolsa de Investigação - BI). Any previous BII periods, consecutive or non-consecutive and regardless of the awarding institution, count towards the cumulative one-year limit;

Selection process

Selection methods: Applications will be assessed on a scale from 0.00 to 20.00 points, rounded to two decimal places, in two stages. In the first stage, the documentary assessment score (DAS) will be calculated as DAS = [(AQ × 35) + (E × 20) + (PF × 15)] / 70. Only the three highest-ranked eligible candidates with a DAS of at least 10.00 points will be invited to interview. The final score (FS) will be calculated as FS = (AQ × 35%) + (E × 20%) + (PF × 15%) + (INT × 30%). Each criterion and subcriterion score will be the arithmetic mean of the scores assigned by the voting members of the Selection Jury.

1. Academic Qualifications (AQ) - 35%: AQ = (AQ1 × 60%) + (AQ2 × 40%). AQ1 assesses the final Bachelor's degree classification; AQ2 assesses the relevance and performance of completed curricular units related to the work plan. Each subcriterion is scored as follows: 18-20, outstanding performance and highly relevant academic preparation; 16-17, very good performance and clearly relevant preparation; 14-15, good performance and relevant preparation; 10-13, adequate performance or partially relevant preparation; 0-9, insufficient, irrelevant or inadequately documented preparation. Foreign degree classifications will be assessed in the context of the original grading scale and the official grading information supplied by the awarding institution; they will not be converted to the Portuguese 0-20 degree-classification scale.
2. Experience (E) - 20%: E = (E1 × 50%) + (E2 × 50%). E1 assesses documented research or project experience in Python-based software development for Creative Computing, Artificial Intelligence or generative systems. E2 assesses documented experience with TouchDesigner or comparable real-time audio/video pipelines, API integration and connected devices. Each subcriterion is scored as follows: 18-20, extensive and highly relevant experience with substantial responsibility and documented results; 16-17, substantial and clearly relevant experience; 14-15, relevant experience of moderate scope; 10-13, limited but relevant experience; 0-9, absent, insufficiently documented or irrelevant experience.
3. Preferred Factors (PF) - 15%: PF = (PF1 × 50%) + (PF2 × 30%) + (PF3 × 20%). PF1 assesses the quality, originality, technical accomplishment and relevance of the submitted portfolio; PF2 assesses documented skills in digital fabrication and research use of laboratory equipment, including 3D printing, CNC and laser cutting; PF3 assesses documented knowledge or experience in qualitative research methods and ethical data handling in public exhibition contexts. Each subcriterion is scored as follows: 18-20, outstanding and highly relevant evidence; 16-17, very strong and clearly relevant evidence; 14-15, good and relevant evidence; 10-13, adequate but limited evidence; 0-9, absent, insufficiently documented or irrelevant evidence. Evidence scored under E will not be scored again under PF; the Jury must record the distinct evidence supporting each score.
4. Interview (INT) - 30%: INT = (INT1 × 40%) + (INT2 × 30%) + (INT3 × 30%). INT1 assesses motivation and understanding of the work plan; INT2 assesses the candidate's ability to discuss relevant technical and research problems; INT3 assesses communication, collaborative aptitude and awareness of ethical responsibilities. Each subcriterion is scored as follows: 18-20, exceptional performance; 16-17, very strong performance; 14-15, good performance; 10-13, adequate performance; 0-9, insufficient performance.

Interview procedure: The invited candidates will be notified by email of the date, time and format of the interview. Interviews will follow the same structure and assessment questions, will last approximately 20 minutes and may take place in person or by videoconference. If two or more candidates are tied for third place in the DAS, all candidates tied at that position will be interviewed. If fewer than three candidates meet the 10.00-point DAS threshold, only those candidates will be interviewed. Candidates who are not invited will be excluded from the second stage and will not appear in the final ranking. Failure to attend at the notified date and time, without a duly substantiated reason accepted by the Jury, will be treated as withdrawal and result in exclusion. In a duly evidenced case of force majeure, the Jury may authorise one rescheduling where compatible with the procedure timetable.

Minimum final score and tie-breaking: Candidates must obtain an FS of at least 10.00 points to be eligible for the award. Ties in the FS will be resolved successively by the highest AQ score, then the highest E score, then the highest PF score and, finally, the highest INT score.

Composition of the Selection Jury:

• Chair: Professor Cláudia Sevivas Ribeiro - UNIDCOM/IADE - Universidade Europeia.
• 1st full member: Professor Madalena Miranda - UNIDCOM/IADE - Universidade Europeia.
• 2nd full member: Professor Maria Joana Vilela - UNIDCOM/IADE - Universidade Europeia.
• Alternate member: Professor André Sabino - UNIDCOM/IADE - Universidade Europeia.

Additional comments

Applicable legislation and regulations: The grant is governed by the Portuguese Research Fellowship Holder Statute and by the FCT, I.P. Research Grants Regulation, in its consolidated version, including the amendments approved by the Board of Directors of FCT, I.P. on 10 December 2025 and in force from 25 December 2025, except for Article 13-A, whose effects are retroactive to March 2025. The consolidated regulation is available at:

FCT Research Grants Regulation - consolidated version

Place of work: The work will be carried out at UNIDCOM/IADE - Universidade Europeia and its laboratories and workshops at Oriente Green Campus, Jardim António Augusto Simenta Mordido, 2, 1885-102 Moscavide, Portugal, under the scientific supervision of Professor Cláudia Sevivas Ribeiro, with the collaboration of Professor Madalena Miranda. Where justified by the work plan, specific research activities may take place at other previously authorised locations.

Grant duration: The grant will have an initial duration of six months, with an expected start date in October 2026. It may be renewed once for a period of up to six additional months, without exceeding a cumulative total of one year for all BII periods previously held by the grant holder, whether consecutive or non-consecutive and regardless of the awarding institution. Renewal is not automatic and requires a written request by the grant holder, a favourable reasoned opinion from the scientific supervisor confirming satisfactory progress and compliance with the work plan, continued fulfilment of the eligibility and enrolment requirements, evidence of continued exclusive dedication, and the availability of funding.

For academic degrees awarded by foreign higher education institutions, recognition of the degree is required in accordance with Decree-Law No 66/2018 of 16 August. If recognition has not been obtained by the application deadline, the applicant may submit a declaration on honour stating that recognition will be obtained before the fellowship agreement is signed. Proof of recognition must in all cases be presented before the agreement is formalised.

Missing documents: Applications that do not include all mandatory documents by the closing date and time will be excluded. Documents required at the application stage may not be submitted, replaced or supplemented after the deadline.

The application period runs from 13 September 2026 at 00:00 (Lisbon time) to 26 September 2026 at 23:59 (Lisbon time), comprising 10 working days.

Publication and notification of results: The provisional evaluation results will be sent to every applicant by email, to the address used for the application, as a ranking list ordered by final score. The minutes of the selection procedure will be attached to the notification or made available for consultation. The final decision, after the prior-hearing procedure where applicable, will also be communicated to every applicant by email. Results will not be published on a public webpage.

Following notification of the provisional results, applicants may, if they wish, submit comments within 10 working days under the prior-hearing procedure for interested parties, pursuant to Article 121 and subsequent articles of the Portuguese Administrative Procedure Code.

An administrative complaint may be lodged against the final decision within 15 working days, or an appeal may be submitted to the highest executive body of the funding entity within 30 working days, in both cases following notification.

The fellowship will not be awarded if no candidate satisfies all eligibility requirements and obtains a final score of at least 10.00 points.

Non-discrimination and equal access policy: UNIDCOM and IADE - Universidade Europeia promote non-discrimination and equal access. No applicant may be privileged, benefited, disadvantaged or deprived of any right, or exempted from any duty, on grounds of ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family situation, economic situation, education, social origin or condition, genetic heritage, reduced working capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, territory of origin, language, religion, political or ideological convictions, or trade union membership.

This call complies with the applicable Portuguese legislation and institutional regulations governing research grants.

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available: 1

Company/Institute: Europeia ID

Country: Portugal

State/Province: Lisbon

City: Moscavide

Postal Code: 1885-081

Street: Oriente Green Campus, 1885-081 Moscavide, Portugal.

Contact

State/Province: Portugal

City: Lisboa

Website: https://www.unidcom-iade.pt/

Postal Code: 1885-081

E-Mail: alexandre.monteiro@universidadeeuropeia.pt